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ARB Newsclips for March 26, 2014.
This is a service of the California Air Resources Board’s Office
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individual websites to view some of the following news articles.
AIR POLLUTION
Pollution advisory issued for Phoenix on Wednesday. Strong winds
that are expected to stir up dust have prompted environmental
regulators to issue a high pollution advisory for fine
particulate matter Wednesday in metro Phoenix. The poor air
quality also has led regulators to bar people in Maricopa County
from starting wood-burning fires on Wednesday. Regulators say
people with respiratory problems should avoid outdoor activities.
Posted.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AZ_AIR_QUALITY_METRO_PHOENIX_AZOL-?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
Beijing Warns Against Outdoor Activity on Hazardous Smog Levels.
Beijing warned its 20 million residents to avoid outdoor
activities as a U.S. Embassy pollution monitor showed air quality
at “hazardous” levels in the Chinese capital.The concentration of
PM2.5 -- the small particles that pose the greatest risk to human
health -- hit 309 in Beijing as of 6 p.m., according to the
monitor. Posted.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-03-26/beijing-warns-against-outdoor-activity-on-hazardous-smog-levels.html
CLIMATE CHANGE
UN chief in Greenland climate change visit. U.N.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has traveled to Greenland to get an
up-close look at the consequences of global warming. Ban landed
Wednesday in Uummannaq, north of the Arctic Circle, the first of
two towns he will visit as part of preparations for a climate
summit in New York in September. Local lawmaker Sakio Fleischer
said Ban was "up here to see the effects of climate change."
Posted.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_GREENLAND_UNITED_NATIONS_BAN?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
Extracting carbon from nature can aid climate but will be
costly-UN. A little-known technology that may be able to take the
equivalent of China's greenhouse gas emissions out of the carbon
cycle could be the radical policy shift needed to slow climate
change this century, a draft U.N. report shows. Using the
technology, power plants would burn biomass - wood, wood pellets,
or plant waste like from sugar cane - to generate electricity
while the carbon dioxide in the biomass is extracted…Posted.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/03/26/climatechange-ccs-idUKL5N0MN30420140326
Raise a Glass of Scottish Wine to Global Climate Changes. Thanks
to climate change, Christopher Trotter will make history later
this year by pairing a Scottish white wine with the local spoots.
The razor clams harvested from the nearby shores of the North Sea
will go down nicely with the first bottles from Trotter’s
vineyard north of Edinburgh. The 2014 vintage will be special for
Scotland, where Highlanders have distilled whisky and brewed ale
for centuries. Posted.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2014-03-26/raise-a-glass-of-scottish-wine-to-global-climate-changes.html
Christie Greenhouse Changes Violate N.J. Law, Court Says. New
Jersey Governor Chris Christie’s administration violated state
law in the way it withdrew from a regional program to reduce
greenhouse-gas emissions, a state appellate court ruled. New
Jersey must begin amending or repealing the state’s
climate-change regulations within 60 days, according to a
three-judge panel in Trenton. Posted.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-03-25/new-jersey-ordered-by-court-to-repeal-or-amend-pollution-rules.html
Scientists report explanation for recent pause in sea-level rise.
In a finding that challenges climate skeptics, a team of
scientists reported this week that a seeming slowdown in global
sea-level rise in the last decade was not a slowdown at all.
Their work -- released in Nature Climate Change -- found that a
natural weather cycle known as La Niña provides most of the
explanation for the pause in sea-level rise observed after 2003.
Posted.
http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/stories/1059996725/print BY
SUBSCRIPTION ONLY
DROUGHT
Sacramento drought busters write 350 violations. Sacramento:
You’ve been warned. Turn off the sprinklers – at least on
Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays. Yet, judging by complaints,
thousands of residents apparently have not gotten that
water-saving message. When city utilities officials noticed a
substantial spike in water use Thursday, they sent out
enforcement officers on the lookout for sprinklers spraying on a
non-watering day. Posted.
http://www.sacbee.com/2014/03/25/6266813/sacramento-drought-busters-write.html#storylink=cpy
First load of Sacramento River salmon begin migration – by truck.
Wildlife officials on Tuesday formally launched a massive
trucking operation to move 30 million Sacramento River salmon
toward the sea to help the fish avoid harmful river conditions
caused by drought. Posted.
http://www.sacbee.com/2014/03/25/6267695/first-load-of-sacramento-river.html#storylink=cpy
Drought Means Pumps Possible In Sacramento River. The Department
of Utilities had hoped to avoid installing extra pumps at the
Sacramento River Pump Station, but the drought has made it
unavoidable. The department's Dave Brent says the river is
four-feet-high now. If it drops below a foot-and-a-half, the pump
station probably won't be able to operate, which is when the City
would likely turn on the submersible pumps. Posted.
http://www.capradio.org/20744
Rain system expected to bring relief to Bay Area. Northern
California on Wednesday was in the midst of what forecasters were
predicting would be the longest stretch of wet weather yet this
year. Rain, heavy at times, was falling in the San Francisco Bay
Area in the morning. The National Weather Service was forecasting
light to moderate rain for morning commuters in the Sacramento
Valley and northern San Joaquin Valley as well. Posted.
http://www.vcstar.com/news/2014/mar/26/rain-system-expected-to-bring-relief-to-bay-area/#ixzz2x5Lwp2ft
New Stanford center aims to 'revolutionize' wastewater reuse.
When a Stanford University student flushes a toilet on campus in
the not-too-distant future, the wastewater that's produced may
not only irrigate the university's lawns, but could also be used
to create energy needed for the treatment process. Stanford
yesterday broke ground on a $3 million facility to explore better
ways to reclaim water using innovations developed by in-house
researchers. Posted.
http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/stories/1059996720/print BY
SUBSCRIPTION ONLY
Panel fears agency's budget plan fails to properly address water
shortfalls. GOP lawmakers yesterday criticized the Obama
administration's plan to lead parched Western states through
ongoing drought conditions, with some arguing during a hearing
that the administration cares more about addressing climate
change and conserving water than about meeting growing demand.
Posted. http://www.eenews.net/eedaily/stories/1059996740/print
BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY
Texans try to cope with lingering hangover from record drought.
After Texas got hit by a historic drought in 2011 that caused
major damage to its agricultural sector, many farmers and
ranchers in the state had hoped their dry spell would be over by
now. But although conditions have somewhat improved since then,
moderate to exceptional drought is still affecting 64 percent of
the state…Posted.
http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/stories/1059996722/print BY
SUBSCRIPTION ONLY
DIESEL EMISSIONS
No technical barrier to advancing regulations on shipping
emissions – study. Ahead of a ruling next week on whether or not
to move forward with international regulations on emissions from
large ships, a new study finds that the standards are technically
feasible and should not be delayed. The International Council on
Clean Transportation (ICCT) found that emission reduction
technologies that are needed to achieve limits on nitrogen oxides
(NOx)…Posted.
http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/stories/1059996749/print BY
SUBSCRIPTION ONLY
FUELS
Gasoline Gains as Shut Pipeline Seen Crimping East Coast Supply.
Gasoline futures rose on speculation that the closing of a key
pipeline transporting Gulf Coast oil products to the U.S.
Northeast will reduce East Coast inventories. Prices gained as
much as 0.6 percent one day after Colonial Pipeline Co., shut the
segment for unplanned repairs. The line is capable of moving
850,000 barrels a day of gasoline and distillates from North
Carolina to New Jersey. Posted.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2014-03-26/gasoline-gains-as-shut-pipeline-seen-crimping-east-coast-supply.html
Richmond calls on Congress to halt crude oil transport through
Bay Area. A unanimous Richmond City Council voted Tuesday to call
on Congress to halt rail transport of Bakken crude oil from North
Dakota pending new regulations and explore what local measures
could be enforced to thwart truck transport of the volatile fuel
mix on local streets. Posted.
http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_25421666/richmond-calls-congress-halt-crude-oil-transport-through?source=rss
Switching fuels poses increased health risk for world's energy
poor. As the developing world claws out of the darkness, many are
finding that the path to a better life and economic growth is
fraught with danger. This is especially true when it comes to
energy. Lighting to gain more usable working hours or stoves for
cooking and heating require fuels, and in impoverished regions,
this usually means biomass collected locally. Posted.
http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/stories/1059996748/print BY
SUBSCRIPTION ONLY
Industry group says EPA proposal will increase GHG emissions. The
Biotechnology Industry Organization today warned that a proposal
by the Obama administration to lower federal biofuel targets this
year will result in higher greenhouse gas emissions. If U.S. EPA
lowers the renewable fuel standard this year, the agency will be
responsible for a net increase equivalent to putting 5.9 million
cars on the road, the industry group said. Posted.
http://www.eenews.net/greenwire/stories/1059996767/print BY
SUBSCRIPTION ONLY
VEHICLES
Cadillac takes on Tesla with plug-in ELR. Finally, there's an
electric car that rivals Tesla's eye-catching Model S. The sleek,
new-for-2014 Cadillac ELR coupe is arguably as sexy looking as
the sporty Model S, and like the Tesla, it's a plug-in vehicle
that's capable of traveling for hours without stopping. For
drivers who don't want to worry about finding a place to recharge
batteries and waiting around until the charging is complete, the
Cadillac ELR is eminently more accommodating. Posted.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_BEHIND_THE_WHEEL_CADILLAC_ELR?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
Nissan recalling over 1 million vehicles for airbag issue. Nissan
Motor Co is recalling 1,053,479 vehicles globally, mostly in the
United States, to fix software that could deactivate the front
passenger airbag. The vehicle occupant classification system
software may incorrectly classify the passenger seat as empty,
deactivating the airbag and increasing the risk of an injury in a
crash, according to documents filed with the U.S. National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Posted.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/26/nissan-recall-idUSL1N0MN0G720140326
U.S. Senate panel sets April 2 hearing on GM auto recalls. A U.S.
Senate panel will hold its first hearing on April 2 to probe how
General Motors and the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration handled recalls over the past decade of
malfunctioning GM ignition switches, which are linked to 12
deaths. The Senate's Commerce subcommittee on Consumer
Protection, Product Safety and Insurance will hold the hearing
one day after the House of Representatives' Energy and Commerce
Committee holds a hearing on the same topic. Posted.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/26/us-gm-recall-congress-idUSBREA2P1GO20140326
GREEN ENERGY
Will Your Next House Produce More Energy Than It Consumes? UC
Davis and a division of Honda say they've built a new house that
saves energy and water, and reduces carbon emissions by 11 tons
each year. The house uses L-E-D lighting and has a geothermal
heating and cooling system. It is solar-powered. The solar system
provides the energy needed for the house and an electric vehicle.
Posted. http://www.capradio.org/20731
New England seeking to tap Canadian hydropower. A 300-mile power
cable line would be buried on land and run underwater from Maine
to Boston in a proposal to tap Canada's hydropower for
power-hungry southern New England. New England governors say they
need up to 3,600 megawatts of renewable energy to meet green
energy goals, while also lowering costs and offsetting losses as
aging power plants go offline. Posted.
http://www.vcstar.com/news/2014/mar/25/new-england-seeking-to-tap-canadian-02/
China's big plans for biomass. China, the largest producer and
consumer of electricity in the world, is also a significant
contributor to global pollution. The Asian giant has been
frequently making headlines due to its toxic air. Fossil fuels,
particularly coal, comprise almost 90 per cent of the country's
current energy consumption. On the other hand, China only obtains
about eight per cent of its total primary energy from non-fossil
fuel sources. Posted.
http://www.hispanicbusiness.com/2014/3/26/china_s_big_plans_for_biomass.htm
MISCELLANEOUS
Obama highlights need for US-EU energy cooperation. U.S.
President Barack Obama said Wednesday that energy cooperation
would be a crucial part of a free trade deal with the EU that, if
reached, would allow the 28-nation bloc to become less dependent
on Russia. Several EU nations rely heavily on Russia for gas
supplies, something they regret now that they are in a diplomatic
standoff over Moscow's annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula.
Posted.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EUROPE_US_FREE_TRADE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
On the Road to Zero Waste The California Strawberry Festival
Recycling Program Scores Tons Of Success. Ten years ago the
California Strawberry Festival kicked off a new recycling program
in partnership with the City of Oxnard and Oxnard City Corps. For
this year’s 31st annual celebration May 17, 18 in Oxnard,
organizers are taking steps leading toward zero waste -- a plus
for the environment and fundraising. Since 2004, a total of
nearly 70 tons of materials have been recycled from the annual
celebration including…Posted.
http://www.vcstar.com/news/2014/mar/25/on-the-road-to-zero-waste-the-california-strawberr/#ixzz2x5MTsk5x
Dust Suppression Unit Introduced. Company Wrench patented and
introduced high-pressure air water cannon (HAWC) used in dust
control at a variety of sites. The company sells and rents HAWC
machines to demolition, scrap & recycling, land fill, mining and
coal sites for use in dust suppression, material retention,
evaporation, odor control, alternative daily coverage, and
irrigation. The machine provides large volumes of properly-sized
mist droplets, to cover large areas where operations disperse
volumes of particulate matter. Posted.
http://www.environmentalleader.com/2014/03/26/dust-suppression-unit-introduced/
BLOGS
Japanese Giant Mitsui Leads $60M Investment In A Startup That
Turns Pollution Into Pure Money. As places like China and India
continue to grow, an ever-increasing number of billowing smoke
stacks mark these countries’ landscapes. 7 million people died in
2012 from air pollution. LanzaTech wants to clean up those
industries by turning all that pollution into extremely valuable
fuels and chemicals. Posted.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/aarontilley/2014/03/26/japanese-giant-mitsui-leads-60m-investment-in-a-startup-that-turns-pollution-into-pure-money/
Climate Change: Case Closed. Today, we are at an environmental
crossroads. Just as those that pioneered environmental protection
in the 20th Century faced the threat of industrial pollution,
this generation faces a looming environmental disaster of our own
creation. Human-caused climate change threatens almost every
aspect of human existence. Left unchecked, the world of tomorrow
will be a vastly different world than the one we know today.
Posted.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rep-alan-lowenthal/climate-change-science_b_5030346.html
Toyota's 'green bond' an industry first, quickly rises to $1.75
billion. Toyota is greasing the skids for more green car
purchases with the announcement of a $1.75-billion bond designed
to finance the purchase of high-efficiency Toyota and Lexus
models. The Asset-Backed Green Bond is a first for the automotive
industry and is making a lot of money available to buy or lease
the following vehicles: any of the four Prius variants, Camry
Hybrid, Avalon Hybrid, RAV4 EV, Lexus CT 200h and Lexus ES 300h.
Posted.
http://green.autoblog.com/2014/03/25/toyotas-green-bond-industry-first-quickly-rises-1-75-billion/
In Ranchers Vs. Weeds, Climate Change Gives Weeds An Edge. Most
climate models a bleak picture of the Great Plains a century from
now as a hot region besieged by heavy rainstorms and flooding.
And new studies suggest that climate change may bring farmers
another headache: more invasive plants. Ask most Midwestern and
Rocky Mountain ranchers about the weeds they pull their hair out
over and be prepared for. There's cheat grass in Nebraska, red
brome in Utah and yellow star thistle in California. Posted.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2014/03/25/294351697/ranchers-brace-for-weed-invasion-as-climate-change-takes-hold
Exide Technologies FAQ: Everything you need to know about
recycling lead batteries in LA. What do battery recyclers like
Exide Technologies in Vernon do? Old lead-acid batteries, like
those you see under the hood of your car, are gathered up and
shipped to secondary recycling facilities. (Motorcycle batteries
and other commercial batteries go to Vernon too.) They’re
disassembled or otherwise broken down; first, plastic casings and
hardware are pulled off and separated. Then the lead is melted
down in furnaces, to separate it from the acid parts. Posted.
http://www.scpr.org/blogs/environment/2014/03/25/13867/exide-technologies-faq-everything-you-need-to-know/
The Scientific Debate On Global Warming In One Chart. The next
time someone tries to tell you that there's a legitimate
scientific debate about man-made global warming, point them to
this chart. It was created by James Powell, an MIT-trained
geochemist, longtime Oberlin professor, and former member of the
National Science Board (under Presidents Reagan and George H.W.
Bush). He searched for all studies published in 2013 that
mentioned "global warming," "global climate change," or "climate
change," and found 10,885 of them. Posted.
http://www.businessinsider.com/the-scientific-debate-on-global-warming-in-one-chart-2014-3#ixzz2x5pwUI1A
Carbon briefing: changing views on biofuels reflected in
forthcoming climate report. The Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change (IPCC)'s new report, due to be launched next week,
is likely to give a new and updated perspective on biofuels -
reflecting a flood of research on their impact on natural systems
in past years. The UN-created body launched its last major report
back in 2007. At that time, the idea of using plant based crops
as a replacement for fossil fuels was largely viewed as an
effective Posted.
http://www.carbonbrief.org/blog/2014/03/carbon-briefing-changing-views-of-biofuels-reflected-in-climate-report/
California is in a drought emergency.
Visit www.SaveOurH2O.org for water conservation tips.